They say that social media builds community…and I’ve certainly experienced that.  I have become part of a large group of people who share a passion for interior and lifestyle design.  An example is my Daily Design, an ode to all things fabulous, whether I find them on the web or in print.  I’ve been able to share my daily inspirations and connect with those who feel the same (or differently).

In 2010, my resolution list is quite short…to inspire and be inspired!  Thank you to everyone who tuned in to my blog and tweets.  It’s been a learning experience and I can’t wait to continue on in the New Year!

I felt that as we are all redefining our lives, Robin Baron Design can redefine luxury with our new services, Luxury à la Carte™.  It’s not about how much you spend…it’s about being good to yourself and loving where you live.

Luxury à la Carte™ allows you to choose the design services you need, when you need them.  Not everyone is ready to do a major overhaul right now, but almost everyone will agree that even a little change can do wonders for a room…and your morale.  We can work with you on projects like Paint and Color Selection or Art and Mirror Placement.  With the holidays just around the corner, Styling for Special Occasions or Design with What You Have could be just what your home needs.  No job is too big or too small.

I’m happy to be introducing Luxury à la Carte™…it’s exciting to me and I hope it will be to you!  If you’d like more information on Luxury à la Carte™, email me at info@robinbarondesign.com and we’ll be in touch.  And as always, if you have a design challenge, ask me on Ask Robin.

Welcome to the official launch of my newly designed blog!  And this is just the tip of the iceberg…we’re launching our interactive website today, too!  Everyone here at Robin Baron Design has been working for months to get this right, insuring we showcase everything we have to offer.  Check out all of our new features here on our blog, as well as on our website.

I hope you’ll discover our expanded list of Design Services and updated Portfolio.  You can even get to know us all a little better by visiting the About tab and by watching the videos, including the one here on the blog.  Some things haven’t changed though… You can still ask me about anything design related on my Ask Robin page…so ask away, I’d love to help!

Over the past few months, I’ve truly seen the power of teamwork and the creative strength of talented minds.  I want to personally thank Gary Cohen of Speakery for the development (and oh, so much more!) of the new site and blog, as well as Steffi and Jodi of Steffi Design for laying out the design and a huge thank you to Valerie, my marketing coordinator, for all of her hard work, creativity and dedication.  It really does take a village!!!

On a side note, there were massive protests in Prague over a Madonna concert.  I’m so glad I wasn’t there to witness it!  I can’t wait to share my trip with you.  I hear Berlin is fantastic for modern design.  I’m always looking for inspiration.

Do you have any trip tips for me?  Any great places to recommend…or anything I should know?  I’d love to hear!

Don’t forget to ask me any design questions…Friday is a great day to ask, so I can catch up on them over the weekend.

photo via flickr

Wouldn’t you know it, I ran into author and interior designer Libby Langdon, host of HGTV’s Small Space, Big Style.  She’s on the Board of VPs at Large of WithIt and was headed to the same conference!  I loved her necklace…it’s a fabulous statement.  What do you think?

After waiting anxiously and catching up on my e-mails, of course, I finally got to board the flight!

I had to hand it to the event planners, the Opening Reception was absolutely fantastic!  I met so many wonderful, interesting people.  Here I am with Sara Lyke, the Executive Director of WithIt…

So far, the conference is flying by!  Today, we listened to Jeff Cook, president of Broyill Furniture Industries, speak on “Managing When the Floor Is Moving Under You”, a topic we should ALL take notes on!  Later on, the roundtable discussions should be very informative and interesting.  That’s all for now!  More to come!

We had a chance to catch up with Andy Whelan, the owner and founder of Green Home Cleaning & Maintenance, who shared his cost-effective and helpful tips:

RB: When and how did the idea of Green Home Cleaning dawn on you?

GHC: I moved to New York in 2004 to pursue an acting career.  Handyman work was a great way to make ends meet while I went to school and auditioned.  Then it sort of evolved into apartment cleaning for my clients, which was great because it gave me a regular schedule and consistent work.  Eventually, I saw the opportunity to grow and decided to create Green Home Cleaning & Maintenance Inc. last year.  I had already been using non-toxic cleaning products and was slowly converting my customers.  It was important to develop an environmentally-friendly business with sustainable practices because of the general nature of cleaning services.  Considering the amount of water and chemicals that my customers were pouring down their drains, I decided to develop a cleaning practice that was safe and used minimal water.

RB: What five green cleaning products can’t you live without and why?

GHC:
1. A great multi-purpose cleaner is huge!  I use one that is a concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide and orange oil which I mix myself.  The cleaner is great for just about every surface and really shines wood floors.  There are so many products out there for kitchen, bath, furniture, and everywhere else when you only need one good cleaner.

2. 20 Mule Team Borax is the best for scouring.  I use it to clean tubs, pots and pans, stainless sinks and it works great to whiten laundry.  Borax is abrasive enough to clean quickly but does not scratch surfaces.  I sound like an advertisement here but it works great.

3. Just like Borax, baking soda is much less expensive than popular chemical cleaners and works quickly.  Baking soda is alkaline so it works on acidic stains like proteins, grease, and pet messes.  It is also mildly abrasive which helps to clean.  Everyone knows that it helps get rid of odors, but you can also use it to clean ovens by mixing a paste with water, spreading it in your oven and letting it sit overnight.  The oven wipes clean the next day!

4. I can’t clean without microfiber towels.  They remove dirt off the surface and are the key to shining metal.  I don’t use any paper products to clean and the towels can be washed and reused.

5. I have a holistic approach to cleaning which means removing all the dirt and dust from a home instead of spreading it around to settle again.  The Nilfisk HEPA Vacuum I use is a backpack style with a filter on the exhaust.  It removes 99.9% of the particles it suctions.  There’s an attachment for dusting and a special trigger to adjust suction.

It’s important to understand that even green cleaning products should be used safely and stored where children and pets do not have access.  I always recommend that you test the products on a small area beforehand to make sure it will do what you want without discoloring the surface.

RB: As I’m sure you are well-aware, people want to get their cleaning done fast!  Do you have any handy, pain-free cleaning tips?

GHC: Hire me and go to a movie.  It’s important to have a plan and follow through because your cleaning needs will probably vary from month to month.  Bathrooms and kitchens require more attention and in the city floors are important to vacuum and mop regularly.  I suggest that you make a checklist of what needs to be cleaned daily, weekly and monthly.  Some simple tips are to clean from top to bottom doing the floors last so you won’t need to repeat.  Use a bucket or something that allows you to carry your products and tools from room to room.  Once you know what you are doing that day let the products work for you.  For instance, I start in the bathroom and spray tile cleaner on the tiles and in the tub, let that begin to work while I do all the glass and scrub the tub.  Then I go back and scrub the tiles and toilet.  You can pour distilled white vinegar in a shower door track and let it sit for five minutes.  Rinse and the soap scum and mildew is removed.  Vacuum your hardwood floors and then mop with a microfiber mop, they’ll stay cleaner longer.  Heat a wet sponge for two minutes in the microwave, let the steam loosen the dried food, and wipe.

RB: Some juicy tidbits: Have you cleaned the home of anyone famous?

GHC: Everyone I clean for is famous.

Andy, thank you for taking the time to meet with me!  For more information or a quote, visit Green Home Cleaning & Maintenance online.